(Times of Israel) Gerald M. Steinberg - In a recent meeting with European officials, diplomats, and journalists, I was asked why many Israelis criticized and resented their intense efforts to advance peace with the Palestinians and democracy for Israel. The problem, I tried to explain, was in the ways that Europeans, in particular, have sought to impose and force their views on Israelis, often via secret processes that manipulate Israeli democracy. By funneling tens of millions of euros or pounds every year to a small group of carefully selected Israeli political organizations, European officials are in effect rolling back Jewish self-determination. Telling Israelis that grants to these groups are "for our own good" is condescending and counterproductive. The writer is professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University and president of NGO Monitor.
2012-04-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive